Heat radiator for electron discharge devices



Oct. 28, 1952 R. c. FORTlN 2,616,055

HEAT RADIATOR FOR ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed April 29, 1950 INVENTOR Kabarfd Iorfiiz Patented Get. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES ()FFICE Robert 6. Fortimilik n patc n, is; 3.; assent tn Radio Cbfiioietti'n of America, a torporaeion of Delaware Abplic'ation April 29, 1950, semi 155;,969

Claims.-

M'y invention reiatesjto election discharge 'de' vices and mere particularly to neat raaiate'rs for such devices.

Many t es of electron" aiscnargedevic'es em- 1516? one or mere grids addition to a cathode and anode for fierformin'g one or more control f-t'iiic'tio'ns on the electrons emitted by the cathode and collected by an output elect'rdde. In order to erform the functions required of them, it fieeessar that the grids be free primariiy from secondary elem-nil emission. I I

One cause for secondary emission b y a grid is the temperature" it assumes during operatitn. if this temperature is relatitely high it facilitates secondary emissioi i. The kinetic energy of ele'ctrans impinging on the grid ttig ether with the neat energy in the grid may in such case be Sllf ficieiit to overcome the relatively high work functier; of the grid material asa consequence of which undesirable secondaries are emitted by the grid.

Various means have heretofore been used for dissibating' eat from a en having side rods. m a type of device having a base andusiiig a sta e; plate rq'r' en aging port ons ereiectfqae's', including grid tempts from the base, a coming collar has been fixed to" end portions of the side rods extending from the; face of the slate remote nom tne'tase. I

However; where t me or mere concentric grids are eiiiploveain a device and each grid has twoside rods a seifious' heat dissiiia'tion problem is entwined; Far exa ple; it two concentric Cami-fie collars were to he used the outer collar would intefrere wim neat radiation from iiin'e'i toner.- If to avoid this interference the we cellars are sgeced axially to provide a free path for heat mailman from outer sides of each collar, an undue elongation of the mint fe'sj'ilts which is undesirable. new of these dificult'ie and the vtact that th two gridsand their" confine" means are" required to he sf'p'ad for" insulating pui'poses", it has heretofore been deemed tracheal tdjiroifid'eoolill means for only one 6f the gri s with thersi'ilt thatthe t t ed t di f weeieve lncli majff's'filt in seeor'iciari emission therefrom.

' firin'c'ipal ohiet 6f; masses is" to a.

mice grid fhi's''ion in an lcfir'bildischarge device toiaidvide' estimated grid cooling means for an A further object is to provide cooli g means for a plurality of concentric grids which cooling means is fiicient in heat dissipation. M

Another object is t6 provide such an improv cooling mea without undesirably elongatin the mount. I

A further ob jeet of invention is to provide a novel array of a pluralit or heatfadiato t the free end of a mount for fiicient heat (11 pa= tion from a pmranty of electrodes included in the mount; X

Another object is to provide a plurality ofheat radiators at the free end of a mount andso tonnes-as to reduce the efie'ctiv'e length of the mount in relation to an enclosing nvao e.

An embodiment of my invention in which the foregoing objects are attained may include an electron giscnarge device having a base, a cathode and anode, and two or mere grids contentment disposed between tne cathode ana anode, The grids niay'each have two side rods. A sp cer plate maybe rovide- 1 for engaging 'nd phrases; or the electrodes referred to. The endportioi'is (ii the the side r a'gma'y expend a relatively sh distaneeteycna the face of the plate imoteffohi the pasel 7 I 7 I The 'ii teiidifi fid persons 6f the s ide feds of the inner and may have arfisea ther'tfi filter a1: lel' aicial relationship' a; metal collar 6? t f mefnlief" which heat is directly eon'du ctea 53? the side rods of the inner grid. The (inter faces of the collar serve to radiate the neat o'ii ducted to the collar b3 the side rods.- 7

To each of the extending end portions of the side rods of the outer grid is ailixed a heat radialtor made of sheet metal having two wings joined to form an L and lying in planes parallel t6 the side rods referred to. A heat radia'toiof the tt'pe described is afiixed at the juncture of its twowings to each of the two side rods referred to,-withthe wings extending away from the. metal collar pre viously mentioned. This arrangement pern'ii'ts unobstructed heat radiation from the outer stir=- faces of the cooling collar and from the surfaces of each of the heat radiators serving the" outer grid:

The wings on the heat radiators fixeet t6 the" outer grid are shaped to reduce the eflectfve length ofthe mount in relation to enclosing envelope. Envelopesfor electronclischar sede-'-' vices are usually provided with a curvature at the endthereof remote from the base. This ciirvatuf results inthe formation of a dome having accn cave inner surface: The larger diameter or edge portions of this concave surface are closer to the free end of the mount than the central portion of the concave surface. According to the invention the heat radiators fixed to the outer grid and in registry with said larger diameter portions of the dome, are tapered radially and axially of the mount to permit the central portion of the upper end of the mount which includes the cooling collar of the inner grid, to be extended into the envelope and relatively close to the central portion of the dome thereof. The taper in the outer heat radiators prevents abutment between said radiators and the larger diameter portions of the dome during such extension of the mount into the envelope. The outer heat radiators do not therefore require an increase in the length of the envelope.

While the foregoing objects and advantages predominantly characterize the heat radiators according to the invention, further purposes and features of the invention will become evident from the following and more detailed description of an embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an electron discharge device in which the heat radiators of the invention are used;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and shows the electrode arrangement of the device;

Figure 3 is a top' view partly in section of Figure 1 and shows the heat radiator array according to the invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top of the mount shown in Figure l and indicates both the structure and arrangement of the heat radiators of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, there is shown in Figure 1 thereof an electron discharge device having an envelope II! terminating at one end in a base II and at the other end in a dome I2. Within envelope I is disposed a mount including .a plurality of electrodes comprising a cathode I3, an anode I4 and two concentrically disposed grids I5, I6 between the cathode and the anode. The inner grid I is provided with side support rods II, I8 and the outer grid It has support rods I9, 20. The electrodes referred to are supported between a lower insulating spacer plate 2I and an upper insulating spacer plate 22. The side rods I I, I8, I9, 20 extend through the upper plate 22 and project a short distance from the face thereof remote from the base II.

To the projecting ends of side rods I'I, I8 servin the inner grid I5, which may be a control grid, is a metal collar. 23 shown best in Figures 3 and 4. The collar 23 may be rectangular as shown, with the side rods I1, I8 nested in diagonally opposite inner corner portions of the collar. According to a broad aspect of the invention the collar maybe other than rectangular, for example, hexagonal,

Heat radiators 24, 25 are connected to the projecting portions of side rods I9, 20, respectively, of the outer. grid I5 that project above the plate 22 asshown in Figures'l and 4. Each of heat radiators 24, 25 includes wings 26, 2! made of sheet metal and extending in planes parallel to the side rods referred to and to the axis of the collar 23. The wings 26, 21 are joined to form an L-shaped structure. At their place of junction the wings are fixed as by welding to each of the side rods I8, I9. The wings 26, 2'! may be separate members welded together to form the L structure or they may be part of an integral body folded to form the L. The folded portion, if the two wings are integral or the portion at which the wings are joined if they are separate members, may be planar and disposed in a plane bisecting the angle formed by the wings. The folded or joined planar portion referred to is sufficiently wide for providing good surface contact with side rods I9, '23.

The wings 25, 2'! of each of the heat radiators 24, 25 extend laterally from the side rods I9, and away from the cooling collar 23. Each of the wings referred to is disposed in a plane that is substantially normal to the plane of one side of collar 23 and substantially parallel to the plane of an adjacent side of the collar. The wings 26, 27 are out of face registry with respect to each other and with respect to any side of the collar 23, so that heat waves radiated along normal lines from the outer surfaces of the collar 23 and the surfaces of the wings 26, 21 do not impinge upon any other structure in the mount. This feature contributes to efiiciency in heat radiation by the collar 23 and the heat radiators 24, 25.

In the arrangement described, the heat radiators 24, extend relatively close to the periphery of plate 22 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and in registry with the more pronouncedly curved edge or larger diameter portion of the dome I2 shown in Figure 1. Extension of the mount, on the free end of which is disposed the heat radiators of the invention, into envelope I0 is sometimes desired so that the cooling collar 23 is relatively close to the middle portion of the dome I2 having a lesser degree of curvature than the larger diameter portion thereof. If the heat radiators 24, 25 were to extend longitudinally of the mount to the same degree as the collar 23 it would be impossible to dispose the mount within the envelope in the manner referred to, because of the abutment of the heat radiators against the curved larger diameter portion of the dome.

The structure of the heat radiators 24, 25 according to the invention overcomes this difiiculty. Thus the upper edges of the wings 26, 21 are tapered as shown in Figures 1 and 4 to effectively reduce the length of the mount at portions thereof in registry with the curved dome I2.

The resultant reduction in the surface areaof the free end portions of the wings 26, 2 I does not adversely affect the heat radiating characteristics of the wings. This is for the reason that the portion of the wings adjacent the side rods to which they are affixed receive most heat and have a relatively large surface area for heat radiation.

Heat not radiated by these portions is conductedto the end portions of the wings which have a smaller surface area. However, since the heat conducted to the end portions referred to is less than that conducted to the portions adjacent the side rods, the more limited surface area of the end portions is well capable of dissipating by radiation the more limited heat received by it.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided a novel and advantageous electron discharge device having a plurality of heat radiators for efii- V cient heat dissipation, the radiators being constructed to avoid an undesirable elongation of a mount in relation to an enclosing envelope.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention is presented by way of illustration only and is not intended to represent the only form which the invention may assume. Various modifications may be made in the embodiment described without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is accordingly desired that such-modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.;1An electron tube mount including an electrode-assembly and a stem on which one end'of said assembly is supported, and a plurality of heat radiators mounted on the other end of :said assembly and disposedinan array transversely of said assembly, one of said. radiators being centrally positioned of said assembly and others of said radiators being disposed'adjacent outer portions of said assembly, said one ofsaid radiatorsxbeing tubular, said others of said radiators each comprising two 'angularly disposed planar portions, the surfaces of saidv radiators being out 'of face registry for efiicient heat radiation therefrom, said portions being tapered at one end :thereof I for reducing the effective length of said mount.

2. An electron tube mount including an electrode. assembly fixed-at one end and a plurality of heat radiators mounted on the free end of said assembly, one of said radiators being centrally disposed of said mount, two others of sa'idradiators being disposed adjacent-the periphery of said assembly, said radiators extending longitudinally of said assembly'in planes parallel to the axis of said'assembly and each including a.

plurality 'of planar surfaces :lying in angular planes, said others of said radiators being fixed at one edge thereof to an electrode: of said assembly and extending from said fixed edgeto the periphery of said assembly, another edge of-said radiators opposite to said fixed edge being free, said others of said radiators tapering towardsaid assembly adjacent said free edge, for

permittingextension "of said assembly into a bulbous-envelope with said one of said radiators relatively close to the bulbous wall of said envelope, said planar surfaces of said radiators being out of face registry for improved heat.

rods, means for dissipating heat from said side rods, said means including a rectangular collar fixed to two of said side rods of one of said grids, and L-shaped heat radiators fixed to the other two side rods of the other grid, the wings of each of said L-shaped radiators extending away from said collar in planes normal to sides of said collar, whereby radiation from said collar and said radiators is free from mutual interferenoe.

5. An electron discharge device including an envelope having a domed wall at one end thereof and a mount having an end portion extending into said dome, said end portion comprising a plurality of heat radiators made of sheet metal extending longitudinally and transversely of said mount, one of said radiators being centrally disposed of said mount for snug extension into the central portion of said domed wall, another of said radiators having a tapered edge for snug extension with a side portion of said domed wall, said heat radiators having all surfaces thereof. out of face registry for improved heat dissipation. 6. An electron tube mount including articlestrode assembly having a free end portionrand heat radiators connected to electrodes of said assembly at said free end portion, said heat radiators comprising a plurality of planar sheet metal elements bent to form corners, said 'ele ments being connected to said electrode assembly at said corners thereof, said elements being disposed with said corners'of one'ofsald elements adjacent the corners of others of said elements, whereby the surfaces of 'saidelements are out of face registry for improved heatdis s'ipation, said elements having a predetermined free end curvature for a snug fit in a curved envelope.

'7. An electron discharge device having an envelope provided with a dome at one end .portion thereof and anelectrode mount within saidenvelope having a free end extending into said dome, said mount including a plurality of elec' trodes adversely affected by heat in operation, said electrodes having end portions terminat ing at the free end of said mount, and a plural-- angularly disposed sheet ine'tal. portions, said radiators being'arrayedalong a common. 'bisec tor of'said angles between said portions, whereby said portions are out of face registry for improved heat radiation therefrom.

8'. An electron discharge device including an envelopehaving a dome at one end thereof, an electrode mount including two concentric'grids', each of said grids having two side rods, said side rods extending to one end" of-said mount,

heat radiators connected to said side rods adjacent said end, each of said heat radiators comprising two sheet metal planar portions disposed substantially at right angles to each other, said planar portions on different ones of said radiators being out of face registry for efficient heat dissipation therefrom, some of said radiators extending relatively close to the side of said mount, said some of of said radiators having portions of reduced extent axially of said assembly, whereby said radiators extend snugly into said dome.

9. An electron discharge device including a spacer plate, a plurality of electrodes supported on said plate and having portions projecting from one face of said plate, and heat radiators connected to said portions and in edge engagement with said face of said plate, each of said radiators comprising a plurality of flat sheet metal portions, extending transversely of said plate, said sheet metal portions in each of said radiators being joined at one end thereof and extending in different directions from said one end transversely of said plate, one of said portions of each of said radiators being substantially parallel and disposed out of face registry with respect to another portion of each of said radiators, whereby improved heat dissipation from said electrodes is secured.

' 10. An electron discharge device including an envelope having a dome at one end thereof, an electrode mount including two concentric grids, each of said grids having two side rods, said side rods extending to one end of said mount, a heat radiator connected to two of said side rods adjacent said end, and two heat radiators connected to the other of said side rods adjacent said end, said heat radiators being out of surface registry for efficient dissipation of heat therefrom, said radiators being disposed transversely of said mount, a portion of some of said radiators extending adjacent the sides of said mount, said portion being tapered toward said end, whereby said end of said mount is disposed in said dome in relatively close space relationship with respect to the inner curved surface of said dome.

11. A heat dissipating system for a plurality of adjacent electrodes comprising a sheet metal heat radiator fixed to the end of one of said electrodes and a heat radiator having two wings Joined at one end thereof and extending in angular directions, said last-named radiator being fixed at said one end to an end of another of said electrodes, said wings extending from said one end away from said sheet metal electrode, the surfaces of said sheet metal radiator and said wings being out of face registry for efficient heat radiation.

12. An electron discharge device having two concentric grids, each of said grids having two spaced support rods, said support rods being disposed in a common plane and having free ends, and a plurality of heat radiators each comprising two fiat sheet metal portions joined at one end to each other and to one of said free ends of said rods, said portions extending laterally away from said free ends angularly with respect to each other and equiangularly with respect to said common plane, alternate ones of saidportions to one side of said plane being substantially parallel, and adjacent ones of said portions to said side of said plane being substantially perpendicular to each other, whereby substantially unobserved heat radiation paths are provided for said portions for improved heat dissipation from said grids.

13. A heat dissipating system for a plurality of electrodes in an electron discharge device, comprising a collar fixed to end portions 'of'one of said electrodes, and two L-shaped heat radiators fixed to spaced end portions of another of said electrodes, the apices of said L-shaped radiators extending toward said collar, whereby efficient heat radiation from said collar and said radiators is provided.

14. A heat dissipating system for a plurality of electrodes comprising a tubular sheet metal fixed to an end portion of one of said electrodes and a radiator comprising two wings joined in a planar portion to form an L, said radiator being fixed to one end of another of said electrodes at said planar portion thereof, said wings extending away from said tubular member for improved heat dissipation.

15. An electron'discharge device including an electrode mount, said mount having a spacer plate at its free end, an electrode having an end portion projecting through said plate, and a heat radiator comprising two sheet metal planar wings having one edge in engagement with said plate, said wings extending transversely of said mount in angular directions from said end portion to sides of said mount, said wings being fixed to said end portion and including a'free edge remote from said plate and spaced from said end portion, said free edge being tapered away from said end portion and toward said plate, whereby the edges of said wings remote from said plate are substantially arcurate for accommodating said free end of said mount to an arcuately curved wall of a domed bulb.

ROBERT C. FORTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: .7

UNITED STATES PATENTS ROnci June 1, 1948 

